Outsider

[Laowai]

The metallic banging of the docking clamps echoed across the docking bay as the Xibanya Nuren touched down within Tripoli station and the great docking bay doors sealed shut.

Waiting beside the bay in a quarantined chamber, in hazmat suits and brandishing anti-grav containment clamps and units was a Containment team of personell, alerted earlier to the presence of Nomad material taken on the voyage into Omicron Minor. The room they were in was off limits to all save those who worked in the unit and were donned in the appropriate garments, no chances were taken. Tripoli had long been the collection point for any and all Nomad related matter that the Corsairs salvaged after battles, and there was much of it.
As such, the facility was state of the art, there had not been a containment breach since its inception and the crew were not about to let their shift be the first.

The Nuren was anchored into place and a Siren wailed across the bay. The containment chamber doors opened and the containment team dashed across the bay to beneath the Cruiser where a large metal container was being lowered from a chamber in its hold. Positioning their anti-grav lifts beneath it, the crew used their communicators to guide the Nuren engineers as they lowered it down. The container was shielded, and this was vital. Corsair research had revealed that while the threat of an active breach was low with most of the superflous material collected from Nomad craft when they were destroyed, they were unable to rule out a threat entirely. All containment units were shielded, combat tested and able to withstand a great deal of damage, from impact and even weapons fire.
As the container was lowered it was powered directly from the core of the Nuren herself, however, once the container was secured on the grav lifts, the containment crew connected it to their own power source before signalling to the Nuren's crew that it was safe to disconnect. Verbally and visually checking all systems were operating normally, the crew moved the unit back into the containment chamber, the doors were sealed behind them and the whole lot, container and crew were taken down to a lower level by a lift for the specimins to be processed. During this whole process, none save the containment crew were allowed into the landing bay and the Crew of any ships docking were required to wait until an all clear was given.
For most Corsairs, they would never even see the captured material, and those that did, this stage was the last they would hear of them.
It did not however, end there. The most intact specimins were dealt with by Corsair researchers, while the weaker or damaged types were destroyed.

As the all clear siren sounded, the Xibanya Nuren's landing platform began to decend from beneath her in a cloud of steam and a clanking of metal. Her crew, eager to disembark and enjoy the patronage of one of Omicron Gamma's largest and most cosmipolitan (as cosmipolitan as a Corsair facility could be) of drinking establishments. Tripoli shipyard, apart from containing the most secure Xenomorph containment facilties in this part of the Empire, was also the main trading hub in Omicron Gamma. There were always new faces and new people for the crew to meet, enjoy and potentially dupe out of their valuables.

Among the eager crew flooding out of the ship strode Ben Laowai and his Lieutenant, Phillip Alberto. "There's no doubt then Senor?" Phillip asked. Ben shook his head, the Order vessels had intended to prevent them returning to Gamma, weapons had been brandished, it had looked like it was going to get ugly.
"That pilot was either painfully green, niave or ill informed, or the Nomad story was just a pretext, either way, short of shooting at us, i know where they stand."
He handed Alberto a data pad, "Thats the new codes for the Outsider, i want you to take her out to Yaren for a while, keep an eye on movements and report in regularly."

Alberto took the pad slipped it into his flight jacket "And if it comes to shooting Senor?" he asked.
Ben sighed. This entire situation was a disgrace, and yet he could not dispute the facts. His reports from the TBH had all been confirmed by recent actions. The Order had revealed themselves to be untrustworthy and honourless to the highest degree, it could not be countenanced nor would it be.
However, it did leave him with some regret. He had had good working relationships with members of the Order command over the years. These men he knew to be principled and honour driven and he had no doubt that had they still maintained their places within the command structure, the current state of affairs would not have eventuated.
"You may defend yourself" Ben answered eventually "but dont initiate anything..." he paused, and scratching his beard added "I want you to make note of who is coming in and out of sensor range... no doubt they'll be updating their patrols now to replace the ones we're familiar with."

"Go" he said, "No doubt the crew will be eager to drink with you."

Alberto nodded "And you Capitan?" he asked.

Laowai look about him and looking at nothing; "No,... there will be a mountain of business to attend to over this and i should speak with the other Elders..."

He smiled, and patted the younger man on the shoulder.

"Have a few for me."

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